The Atkinson Foundation concentrates large, strategic gifts to major institutions working in higher education, global humanitarian relief, and environmental policy. Their grants are sizable and often repeated to a small set of established national and international organizations, indicating a preference for scalable, institutional partners over grassroots groups. The foundation’s portfolio balances support for academic research and education with funding for emergency relief and environmental advocacy.
The David R and Patricia D Atkinson Foundation stands out for large, repeated general-support grants to a small set of major institutions. Cornell University is the clearest anchor in the record, receiving seven-figure gifts in 2023, 2024, and 2025, including $2,231,633 in 2024 and $1,466,980 in 2025. That same pattern of sustained support appears in other core relationships, including Environmental Defense Fund and Doctors Without Borders, which also receive multi-year funding. The foundation’s grant portfolio points to four main lanes: higher education, international medical humanitarian aid, global relief and development, and environmental policy and advocacy. Its giving is institution-focused rather than diffuse, with general-purpose grants to established organizations such as CARE and Feeding America alongside university and research support. Recent awards also show a New Jersey thread through Homefront, Urban Promise International-celdi, Princeton Medical Center Foundation, and Climate Central. The available record shows only U.S. recipients, indicating a domestic recipient base even when the mission of the funded work is global.
Higher education is a central part of the foundation’s work. Cornell University received $2,231,633 in 2024, $1,474,448 in 2023, and $1,466,980 in 2025, all listed as general support. Environmental policy is another recurring lane. Environmental Defense Fund received $1,169,083 in 2025, plus $175,000 in both 2023 and 2024, also for general support. Climate Central, based in Princeton, received $100,000 in 2024 and $100,000 in 2025. The foundation also backs humanitarian response and development. CARE received $1,000,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Doctors Without Borders received $1,000,000 in 2023 and 2024 and $1,100,000 in 2025. Feeding America received $250,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Grant sizes cluster in the mid-five-figure to low-six-figure range, with a p25 of $15,000, a median of $32,500, and a p75 of $60,000. The recent record also shows a smaller set of much larger institutional gifts, including seven-figure awards. The foundation gives as a regular funder rather than through program-related investments, and the pattern of repeat awards to the same organizations across multiple years suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time support. Recent grants are listed as general support.
$7.3M
$109M
$5.4M
$7.9M
Most grants fall between $15K and $60K, with a median of $33K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$33K
75th Percentile
$60K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small number of large, established organizations; multiple repeat grants to the same grantees rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: Cornell University, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), CARE, Environmental Defense Fund
The foundation gives nationally, with 100% of grants in the United States and 39% of grants going to recipients in its HQ state of New Jersey. By count, Colorado is the top giving state, though the recent-grants list shown here is concentrated in New York, New Jersey, and other U.S. metros. Named recipient locations include Ithaca, NY; New York, NY; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Lawrenceville, NJ; and Philadelphia, PA.
Its recent grants favor established institutions in higher education, international medical humanitarian aid, global relief and development, and environmental policy. Cornell University, Doctors Without Borders, CARE, Environmental Defense Fund, and Feeding America all appear in the recent record as general-support recipients.
Yes. Cornell University appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; CARE appears in all three years; Doctors Without Borders appears in all three years shown; and Feeding America, Homefront, Urban Promise International-celdi, Climate Central, and Propublica also recur across multiple years.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is p25 $15,000, median $32,500, and p75 $60,000. The recent record also includes much larger strategic awards, including several seven-figure grants to a small group of institutions.
By recipient count, Colorado is the top state for giving, while 39% of grants go to recipients in New Jersey. The recent grants list includes recipients in Ithaca, New York City, Atlanta, Chicago, Lawrenceville, Princeton, and Philadelphia.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS DONOR ADVISED PHILANTHROPY FUND | ALBANY, NY | $3,775,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CARE | ATLANTA, GA | $1,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| FEEDING AMERICA | CHICAGO, IL | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HOMEFRONT | LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $175,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CLIMATE CENTRAL | PRINCETON, NJ | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PROPUBLICA | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| YANA MINISTRY | HACKENSACK, NJ | $80,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| NEW YORK TIMES COMMUNITIES FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $70,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BUCKS COUNTY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | NEW HOPE, PA | $70,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $60,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ST MARY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | LANGHORNE, PA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PRINCETON HEALTHCARE CENTER FOUNDATION | PLAINSBORO, NJ | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ELIXIR FUND | PRINCETON JCT, NJ | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| LYMPHOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| FRIENDS OF PRINCETON OPEN SPACE | PRINCETON, NJ | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| APAW | PRINCETON JCT, NJ | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THE CENTER FOR DISCOVERY | HARRIS, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| NEW EGYPT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | NEW EGYPT, NJ | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| LAWRENCEVILLE SCHOOL | LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| YARDLEY-MAKEFIELD EMS | YARDLEY, PA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| YARDLEY-MAKEFIELD FIRE | YARDLEY, PA | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CAPE MAY CITY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT | CAPE MAY, NJ | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $1,466,980 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $1,169,083 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CARE | ATLANTA, GA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| FEEDING AMERICA | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HOMEFRONT | LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| URBAN PROMISE INTERNATIONAL-CELDI | PENNSAUKEN, NJ | $170,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CLIMATE CENTRAL | PRINCETON, NJ | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| PROPUBLICA | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NEW EGYPT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | NEW EGYPT, NJ | $95,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| WHYY TV 12 | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $85,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BARD PRISON INITIATIVE | ANNANDALEONHUDSON, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| THE NEW YORK TIMES NEEDIEST | NEW YORK, NY | $70,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| YANA MINISTRY | PARAMUS, NJ | $70,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE | BOULDER, CO | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING | EMERVILLE, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BUCKS COUNTY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | NEW HOPE, PA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| MEALS ON WHEELS OF MERCER COUNTY | EWING, NJ | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| FREE LIBRARY FOUNDATION OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| PRINCETON MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | PLAINSBORO, NJ | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| STMARY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | LANGHORNE, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| STRIVE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF B&MC | MAPLE SHADE, NJ | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
GS DONOR ADVISED PHILANTHROPY FUND
$3,775,000GENERAL
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
$1,100,000GENERAL
GENERAL
YANA MINISTRY
$80,000GENERAL
BUCKS COUNTY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$70,000GENERAL
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$60,000GENERAL
CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
$60,000GENERAL
PRINCETON HEALTHCARE CENTER FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL
ELIXIR FUND
$35,000GENERAL
FRIENDS OF PRINCETON OPEN SPACE
$30,000GENERAL
APAW
$25,000GENERAL
NEW EGYPT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$20,000GENERAL
LAWRENCEVILLE SCHOOL
$15,000GENERAL
YARDLEY-MAKEFIELD EMS
$5,000GENERAL
YARDLEY-MAKEFIELD FIRE
$3,000GENERAL
CAPE MAY CITY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT
$3,000GENERAL
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
$1,100,000GENERAL
URBAN PROMISE INTERNATIONAL-CELDI
$170,000GENERAL
NEW EGYPT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$95,000GENERAL
WHYY TV 12
$85,000GENERAL
BARD PRISON INITIATIVE
$75,000GENERAL
YANA MINISTRY
$70,000GENERAL
ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE
$60,000GENERAL
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$60,000GENERAL
CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
$60,000GENERAL
BUCKS COUNTY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$60,000GENERAL
FREE LIBRARY FOUNDATION OF PHILADELPHIA
$55,000GENERAL
PRINCETON MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL
STMARY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL
STRIVE
$50,000GENERAL
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF B&MC
$50,000GENERAL